We abhor grisly violence, yet it fills the TV screen

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Disgust. (dis-gust), noun: A feeling of revulsion or profound disapproval aroused by something unpleasant or offensive.

May I say something? I am disgusted. Upset? No. Disgusted. For tens of millions of passionately dedicated believers, I must seem a hysterical prude and a squeamish pansy, but can I just ask how and why the gore of flesh-eating zombies and their uncensored cannibalism became prime time entertainment? Why the international obsession over a trilogy sensationalizing young people murdering one another for the amusement of the elite masses?

Can someone please explain to me why we are so desperate for grisly violence that the highest grossing video games of 2012 depict increasingly graphic images of enthusiastic participants vigorously executing other people?

When did mainstream audiences become so ruthlessly obsessed with such realistic ferocity? Have we become so enamored by the fascination of the grotesque that our relentless tolerance for carnage requires increasingly more shocking images of human slaughter?

Have we completely lost our minds?

I killed my television years ago because I was tired of sitting through an hour of consumer-frenzied propaganda for every five minutes of clever entertainment worthy of my time and energy.

Let's be clear. I believe in freedom of speech and would never promote suppression of the arts. This is not about censorship. I agree that if you don't like something, don't participate. Don't like it, change the channel. I get it, but that is not my point.

I understand that there will always be those who flirt with the darkest of themes - too obscure to be considered acceptable for the masses. I want to know why images promoting inhuman savagery became commonplace features marketed as prime time blockbusters for children and adults alike.

Have we run out of ideas? Is this our future - glorifying the most unthinkable acts and then turning it up a notch? To what end? For what purpose?

Are we so bored? Are we so uninspired to say something insightful that we are reduced to gallons of red corn syrup artistically splattered from provocative angles?

So, why the rant? I was recently at an acquaintance's home and was horrified to see what they had blaring from their 104-inch television screen, ridiculously dwarfing the furniture in their modest living room. Frantically switching back and forth between "The Walking Dead" (an award-winning explicit zombie television series, reviewed as the most-watched television drama in history) and "Call of Duty," a top-grossing video game featuring graphic depictions of urban warfare, the entire household was enveloped in a loud haze of terror and aggression.

I stayed for about 90 seconds, confused and angered to learn that this is what people are bringing into their homes and exposing to their children across the country.

Am I so naïve? Why did I think people still watched shows like "The West Wing," "Seinfeld" and "The Muppet Show"? Jerry Springer wasn't confrontational enough. Now we indulge our crude tastes for the ever-outlandish with automatic machine-guns, and gory slasher flesh-eating zombie after-school specials. Jim Henson would be ticked off.

As we look to the New Year, I urge you to be mindful, considerate and intentional about what you let into your head, your home, and what you allow to influence the cognitive and emotional development of your children.

If New Year's resolutions are a reflection of what we hope to become, please consider the clutter and chaos we inadvertently allow to cloud and betray our own sense of humanity, compassion and purpose. Instead, let us seek to promote that which inspires productivity, innovation and peace.

To hell with the entertainment industry's rave reviews and critic awards. Those folks are getting rich with so much toxic drivel, it's reprehensible and infuriating. The world won't fix itself without a little love and kindness - even if it does make for boring television.